Random MLB News & Discussion 2015–16

[danzig6767]

It makes zero sense that fans are legally entitled to keep balls they catch.

Legally that's not exactly true. Logistically, it would be even more of a challenge and a ridiculous waste of time.

Oddly ironic and pretty hysterical that ARod's 3000th hit is caught by a guy like the Happy Youngster on steroids. What are the odds??

It is pretty bizarre that guy catches the ball. That ball could have landed anywhere else but into his hands.

[Invader3K]

I understand everyone has hobbies, but the idea of guys who are in their 20's and 30's who obsess over catching as many baseballs as possible is just really distasteful to me. I'd rather see a kid get a ball at a game, rather than some guy who's going to brag about it on his blog and then probably sell it later.

[dlk9s]

Not that I have much sympathy for A-Rod, but I just don't get the point in keeping the ball if you're the guy who caught it. I can understand if it could legitimately fetch six-figures or something, but I doubt this ball is THAT valuable. In the vast majority of circumstances, I would happily give the ball to the team/player and I wouldn't ask for anything except the opportunity to meet the player, congratulate him, and have my picture taken with him. I'm sure he/the team would probably give me some memento in exchange, but whatever, I really wouldn't care.

[jerichoholicninja]

It makes zero sense that fans are legally entitled to keep balls they catch.

 

Legally that's not exactly true. Logistically, it would be even more of a challenge and a ridiculous waste of time.

 

I understand that, currently, fans are legally entitled to keep the balls, but I don't see why that should be the case. You buy a ticket and are invited onto private property to watch the game. If you're shopping in a store and a box falls off the shelf and into your bag that doesn't mean you get to keep it. If you're at a concert and a musician drops his instrument into the first row, that doesn't mean it's yours. Even if it's not an automatic right, teams should write their right to reclaim foul balls into the ticket agreements.

 

It wouldn't be a logistical challenge at all, because 99.999% of the time the stadium/team would not exercise its legal rights and would let fans keep balls. When you have a historically significant ball that could be worth thousands of dollars, the stadium should have the right to confiscate it from whoever it lands on.

 

How are you going to keep track of what is actually a game ball? The only way would be to have serial numbers on every ball and the home plate umpire would need to track every serial number put in play and what happened to it. Otherwise fans could bring their own baseballs to the game and give up that one if they are asked for the real game ball back. That makes sense for ones that are historically significant like they did during the McGwire/Sosa and Bonds chase but otherwise it's just a waste of time and effort.

[AKCheesehead]

How are you going to keep track of what is actually a game ball? The only way would be to have serial numbers on every ball and the home plate umpire would need to track every serial number put in play and what happened to it. Otherwise fans could bring their own baseballs to the game and give up that one if they are asked for the real game ball back. That makes sense for ones that are historically significant like they did during the McGwire/Sosa and Bonds chase but otherwise it's just a waste of time and effort.

 

I especially wouldn't put that past Hample, as he probably already had 20 or so balls in his backpack that he shagged during BP and begged for from the bullpen.

[Invader3K]

How are you going to keep track of what is actually a game ball? The only way would be to have serial numbers on every ball and the home plate umpire would need to track every serial number put in play and what happened to it. Otherwise fans could bring their own baseballs to the game and give up that one if they are asked for the real game ball back. That makes sense for ones that are historically significant like they did during the McGwire/Sosa and Bonds chase but otherwise it's just a waste of time and effort.

 

Surely for this instance, MLB was using some kind of tracking system. A-Rod's potential 3,000th hit ball is too valuable not to do so with.

[SRB]

How are you going to keep track of what is actually a game ball? The only way would be to have serial numbers on every ball and the home plate umpire would need to track every serial number put in play and what happened to it. Otherwise fans could bring their own baseballs to the game and give up that one if they are asked for the real game ball back. That makes sense for ones that are historically significant like they did during the McGwire/Sosa and Bonds chase but otherwise it's just a waste of time and effort.

 

There are tens of thousands of people (and multiple cameras) watching where the balls go...

 

You catch the A-Rod ball, a stadium employee comes over and asks for it back. Nothing complicated about that whatsoever. I think the scenario where the fan gives back a fake ball he/she smuggled in is fairly far-fetched.

[jerichoholicninja]

How are you going to keep track of what is actually a game ball? The only way would be to have serial numbers on every ball and the home plate umpire would need to track every serial number put in play and what happened to it. Otherwise fans could bring their own baseballs to the game and give up that one if they are asked for the real game ball back. That makes sense for ones that are historically significant like they did during the McGwire/Sosa and Bonds chase but otherwise it's just a waste of time and effort.

 

There are tens of thousands of people (and multiple cameras) watching where the balls go...

 

You catch the A-Rod ball, a stadium employee comes over and asks for it back. Nothing complicated about that whatsoever. I think the scenario where the fan gives back a fake ball he/she smuggled in is fairly far-fetched.

 

Except in Wrigley where it's cool the throw a non-game used ball back onto the field after a homerun.

 

If teams start regularly tracking down fans that catch baseballs to get them back you can be sure there are going to be people that start bring baseballs in with them.

[jerichoholicninja]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/131904804/red-sox-david-ortiz-ejected-against-royals

 

David Ortiz gets thrown out for...some reason. He gets a hit gets to first and is tossed by the home plate umpire. It looked like there was a little jawwing going on and I emphasize little.

 

Is it just me or have there been a lot of ejections this season that appear to be because the umpire was looking for a reason to throw someone out?

[narwhalattack]

So the Braves sent a utility infielder to the D-backs and got Bronson Arroyo and... Touki Toussaint.

 

The D-backs sent a high-ceiling arm just to dump Arroyo and get a utility infielder.

 

WHAT

 

I guess it's time to ask the D-backs about Braden Shipley or Archie Bradley?

[trwi7]

So the Braves sent a utility infielder to the D-backs and got Bronson Arroyo and... Touki Toussaint.

 

The D-backs sent a high-ceiling arm just to dump Arroyo and get a utility infielder.

 

WHAT

 

I guess it's time to ask the D-backs about Braden Shipley or Archie Bradley?

 

Wish we had payroll flexibility so we could take advantage of stupid teams like the Braves have been doing since the offseason.

[Invader3K]

Tuned into WTMJ after the game yesterday...whoever the talking head was, was babbling on about how "maybe the Brewers should have chosen to build around Prince Fielder long term instead of Ryan Braun." Of course, completely ignoring that the Brewers tried to give Fielder a long term contract and he wouldn't have any of it.

 

I know sometimes these guys have to talk nonsense at length to fill airtime...but the revisionism was pretty bad.

[danzig6767]

Marco Estrada with back to back starts into the 8th inning with a no hitter going, including a perfect game today before giving up a hit.

[jerichoholicninja]

http://m.mlb.com/video/v197393583/ladchc-tempers-flare-between-lester-homeplate-ump

 

I hope Mr. Fletcher gets at least a fine from this but a suspension is definitely warranted. A player and manager should not have to restrain an umpire from going after a player. Especially when the player is not going after the umpire. I don't buy that Lester was just mad at himself and he most likely said some things but he never left the mound and he never even looked at Fletcher.

[adambr2]

Here's something crazy...the A's have the worst record in the AL...and the 3rd BEST run differential.

[WinkelsasVsSoriano]

Didn't know where to put this, but I had a question about replay. How do the umpires relay the call is confirmed versus stands (not having enough evidence to overturn.) I've never seen the umpires make a secondary motion that would indicate one or the other. Or does the replay booth in NY tell the broadcasters which it is? That's confused me for a while since I've never seen any indication from umpires that would say either way.

[jerichoholicninja]

Didn't know where to put this, but I had a question about replay. How do the umpires relay the call is confirmed versus stands (not having enough evidence to overturn.) I've never seen the umpires make a secondary motion that would indicate one or the other. Or does the replay booth in NY tell the broadcasters which it is? That's confused me for a while since I've never seen any indication from umpires that would say either way.

 

I think those in the press box are the only ones who know for sure.

[WinkelsasVsSoriano]

I think those in the press box are the only ones who know for sure.

Thanks for the info!

 

So I assume that would mean the umpires in New York communicate that to the press box, and not the umpires on the field? I'm guessing that would be the case because, as I said earlier, I can't recall any umpires making any type of motion that would indicate the call stood vs. being confirmed.

[jerichoholicninja]

I think those in the press box are the only ones who know for sure.

Thanks for the info!

 

So I assume that would mean the umpires in New York communicate that to the press box, and not the umpires on the field? I'm guessing that would be the case because, as I said earlier, I can't recall any umpires making any type of motion that would indicate the call stood vs. being confirmed.

 

The umpires might be told but I guess what does it really matter to a manager anyway? I know the press box is told because sometimes you can hear it in the background on the radio.

[WinkelsasVsSoriano]

I was curious on something - how many baseballs are brought to the ballpark for each game? I haven't been able to find out any info regarding this. There's stuff about approximately how many baseballs are USED, but I've never read anything about how many baseballs are there are the start of the game. Anyone know? I'm assuming it would be the same for each team and each game (except perhaps the playoffs), but I'm guessing the amount is considerable factoring in batting practice and a nine-inning game.

 

I have no clue why this popped into my head, but if anyone knows, that'd be great!

[pitchleague]

Batting practice is used balls that are taken out of play by the catcher after pitches in the dirt, etc.

 

I believe that I read once upon a time that there are something like 20 dozen balls available for every game with another 10 dozen "on standby" at every ballpark. This was several years ago, though, so I have no idea how accurate this is anymore.

[trwi7]

I was curious on something - how many baseballs are brought to the ballpark for each game? I haven't been able to find out any info regarding this. There's stuff about approximately how many baseballs are USED, but I've never read anything about how many baseballs are there are the start of the game. Anyone know? I'm assuming it would be the same for each team and each game (except perhaps the playoffs), but I'm guessing the amount is considerable factoring in batting practice and a nine-inning game.

 

I have no clue why this popped into my head, but if anyone knows, that'd be great!

 

• 1. He periodically visits the home clubhouse room and signs out two cartons of baseballs. Each carton contains six boxes, each containing a dozen balls.

 

Efta: "I fill up the black bag with at least five dozen rubbed-up baseballs. I like to have at least 8-10 dozen backups in my cabinet, ready to go. I put a black "R" on the boxes that contain rubbed baseballs. I don't want to be rubbing them in bottom of the ninth, or 13th inning. Sometimes, I've gotten caught short and need to scramble."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/07/mlb_baseballs_must_get_dirty_b.html

 

Seems like they just keep a huge stock of balls in the clubhouse and then take them as needed. The used balls that are no longer in "game shape" are then used for BP or sent to the minors.

[WinkelsasVsSoriano]

Thanks to both of you! I appreciate the quick answers.

 

Do either of you (or anyone) have an approximation on how many baseballs are actually used during the game. I thought I had found my answer before asking my original question, but then I saw several different answers. For instance, 20-30 (which seems way too low); 50-70 (which still seems low to me); and about 120 (which feels about right, but maybe a bit high...?)

I guess I'll have to try and pay attention to that sometime.

[MrTPlush]

100 balls average for each game from reliable sources I have seen.

 

Each team has a mind boggling amount of balls at once. Look up the Rockies humidor and the whole walk in fridge looking thing is loaded. As mentioned not all are game ready.

 

As far as what is done afterwards with these balls I'd really question them being used in MLB BP. Most BP balls I have seen are not rubbed...these non rubbed balls are likely error balls from the factory the teams get for a reduced price.

[Lee16]

Here in Arizona I am forced to watch the Diamondback telecasts, and just a week or ten days ago they did a little 10 minute or so spot on their pregame show where they followed the clubhouse attendant around before game and talked with him about what he does, etc. They showed him rubbing down the balls with that special Delaware mud that MLB uses. Anyway, he said that for a game he will usually rub down 12 dozen balls, and know by the 7th inning or so if they are going to need more. He also said that the average "life expectancy" of a MLB baseball is 3 pitches. So, if you want to say each team will throw 140-150 pitches in a 9 inning game, you're looking at using what, 95-100 balls?